Obama will make the announcements on Friday afternoon, after he returns to the White House from Chicago. The president spent Thursday night in the Windy City after headlining a pair of Democratic fundraisers.

Donovan and Castro are both subject to Senate confirmation.

Donovan, who would be the president's point person on budget battles with congressional Republicans, is nominated to replace Sylvia Mathews Burwell as budget director. Obama has nominated Burwell as secretary of Health and Human Services.

Castro, who would lead Obama's efforts to revive the housing industry, is considered a rising star in Democratic politics. Texas Democrats have talked about Castro running for governor or U.S. senator in 2018.

Castro delivered the keynote address at the 2012 Democratic convention.

Also on Obama's schedule Friday: Signing legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal for World War II veterans who were members of the "Doolittle Tokyo Raiders."

The medal is for "outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo" during the Second World War, the White House schedule said.